["Bacon's Assembly" of 1676 repealed this restriction and restored
free manhood franchise; but that act fell with the other attempted
reforms of that year; Nos. 106, 109, below.]
106. "Bacon's Laws," in Virginia (Political Discontent)
Hening's _Statutes at Large_, II, 341-365.
Cf. _American History and Government_, # 105.
_At a Grand Assemblie Holden at James Citie the fifth day of June,
1676._
Act I. [An act for carrying on a warre against the barbarous Indians.]
[Nearly ten pages. Declares war; Provides an army of 1000 men; decrees
that captives shall be made slaves; appoints Bacon "genll. and
commander in cheife."]
Act II. [Prohibits trade with Indians.]
Act III. [Reserves to the colony as a whole any deserted Indian lands.]
Act IV. [To suppress tumults.]
Act V. [Sheriffs.]
=Whereas= divers complaints have been made throughout the country of
the abuses ... of divers offices ... _Bee it enacted by the governour,
councell, and burgesses of this grand assembly, and by the authority
of the same_, that noe person whatsoever within this country shall
exercise, hold, and enjoy the office of sherriffe or under-sherriffe
more than one year successively. [Penalty, 20,000 pounds of
tobacco] ... _And bee it further enacted_ ... that noe person or
persons whatsoever shall hold or enjoy two of these offices hereafter
named at one and the same time ... viz. ... sherriffs, clerke of
courte, surveyor, and escheator. ... [Three years residence necessary
for eligibility to any office. ... Provision, in much detail, against
sheriffs or other officers exacting more than the legal fees.]
Act VI. [Vestries.]
Whereas the long continuance of vestries ... is presented as a
greivance, _Bee it enacted_ ... that it shall and may be
lawfull ... for the freeholders =_and freemen_= of every
parish ... by the majoritie of votes to elect ... certaine freeholders
or substantiall householders to the number of twelve ... which said
twelve shall be ... the vestrie of the parish ... and such election to
be made ... =_once in every three yeares_=.
Act VII [Suffrage.]
=_Bee it enacted_= ... that the act of assembly [1770; see No. 105]...
which forbids =_freemen_= to have votes in the election of burgesses
be repealed, and that they be admitted, together with freeholders and
householders, to vote as formerly in such elections.
Act VIII. [_To add representatives to the Board of County Justices_,
except for judicial purposes.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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